Instrument for obtaining condyle-cast records



June 28, 1932.

R; P. CLARK 1,864,804

INSTRUMENT FOR OBTAINING CONDYLE CAST RECORDS Fil y 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l amnion IEO) P CLERK;

June 28, 1932. R, RCLARK 1,864,804

INSTRUMENT FOR OBTAINING CONDYLE CAST RECORDS Filed May 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Fa 7- 1 g. 8.

Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED srs BOY" P. CLARK, F BROWNSTOWN,ZIN'DIAM INSTRUMENT FOR OBTAINING OOilSl'DYIKE- C LAST.ItEIEiC Z OIBJJS Application filed May 4,

My invention relates to prosthetics, and the object thereof, broadly speaking, is the provision of a. prosthetic instrument which is particularly designed for obtaining condyle-cast and a-rticulator records from model dentures, which may be transmitted diagrammatically, or otherwise, for the purpose of producing therefrom absolutely correct dentures by a prosthetist who is remote from the patient for whom they are prepared.

In-other words my invention, as it relates to prosthetic dentistry, provides means for obtaining true and accurate data relating to the condyle and other movements of a persons jaws, whereby the data thus ob tained may-be transmitted to a laboratory where the same may beimpersonally incorporated into a correct anatomical dental set-up, without experimentations or loss of time.

Alsomyobject is to provide an instrument, ofthenature above mentioned, which may be employed in connection with any standard make of prosthetic articulator which employs face-bow technic.

" And,-finally, my object 18 to provide an-attachmentior prosthetic articular instruments, which is simple in construction, easily op- .erate'd and controlled, positive and absolutelyaccurate inits results, which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low .price, and-by which the cost of operation will :bepractically nil.

Other objects and particular advantages of any invention will suggest themselves to those familiar with the art, in the course of the 'fol lowingdescription, and that which is new and involves'invention will be correlated in the appended claimsr lathe-accompanying two-sheets of drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a standard -.adaptable'articulator, and its attached face- -bow, showing the full assembly of the type usually employed by the prosthetist profession, and-showing my invention connected therewith in operative condition. Figure 2 :isaanend elevation ofthe same. Figure 3 is a-plan view ofthe bite fork, or cast support, alone. .Figure 4: is a side elevation of the 5c .face-bowjack alone. Figure. 5 is atop plan 1931. Serial No. 53:4;885.

tion, and the several advantages of my inven- 1 tion maybe more/fully understood and appreciated, I will nowtake up a detailed descriptionthereolf, in which I will set forth the sameas comprehensively as I may.

In order to laythe basis for an explana- 1 tion of my inventiom'I' will first-briefly describe an adaptablearticu'lator andits facebow associated therewith, with the parts thereof indicated by letters of reference,'to which partsTI make no claim .per se.

The, articula'tor instrument shown comprises "the triang1i1ar,'three pronged base A, which is slightly .elevated abovefthe surface 'X'by means of the depending legs B. Said base provides two .rearwardly diverging arms andone forwardly extending arm, each of which has alegB near its-outer end and integraltherewith. p

Extending upwardly 'from each of the two rear arms of the base .A, are spaced apart condyle posts 1C and .C'f, each of which-terminates in Jan adaptable eccentric construction'D, identical with .eachother.

Resting .on thecentlal portion ofthe base A is the lower mounting plate 1E, whichlis detachably secured .by .the lockingscrewE. Letter F denotes sa -shaft, which extends through each of-the members D, with a spherical knoborpball (-not-shown .formed integral therewith and they are alocatedqinside th members D, and theirpaths of movement: are adjustable by simply changing :the inclination of the slotseas the slot lD'iwhich isshown in Fig. 2, whereby the'corresponding condyle movements may "be imparted thereto. The inclination of theslots D may be changed by loosening'the' screws .G, and thenmoving the stems-thereof in the slotsI-I, whereby the -s'lots D,may be turned'tothe desired angle,

after which the screws G are to be tightened to retain the adjustment attained.

Rigidly connected with the central portion of the shaft F is the forwardly extending arm I, which carries on its underside the upper mounting plate J, which is concentric with the plate E, but it is some distance thereabove. The plate J is detachably secured by means of the locking screw J. The forward end'of the arm 1 is supp orted bythe incisal pin K, which by means of the screw R is capable of several adjustments, whichneed not be particularized.

Letter L designates the face-bow, the same having its rearwardly extending ends adjustably secured to the respective oppositely disposed condyle-slides, or pintles, M. Said slides M are in absolute alignment, and concentric, with each other and with the shaft F, with which they are usually directly pivoted, so that the forward or central part of the face-bow may swing up and down as desired. Letter N denotes an arm, which carries clamp-block U, which also is mounted on the central portion of the face-bow L, and the members L, N and U, are adapted to be adjustably secured together, by means ofthe set screw V, whereby the arm N may be universally adjusted. Carried by the inner end of the arm N is thesupporting fork O, which isnormally concentric with the plates E and J, between which itprojects, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Letter P denotes an adjustable jack, shown alone in Fig. 4, which is adapted to rest on the surface X, and it is for the purpose of Supporting the forward portion of the facebow L-at the desired height to which it may be adjusted. i

Letter S designates the wax bite plate, with which is associated in the usual manner the plaster cast T.

My invention proper includes the elements which are indicated by numerals, and comprises the arms 1 and 2, with their parallel end portions pivoted to the outer ends of the shaft F, or on the pins M, or between said parts in substantially the same manner that the rear ends of the face-bow are pivoted, or

otherwise suchthat the movements ofthe arms 1 and 2 are concentric with the shaft F, and the pins M. Said arms 1 and 2 extend forwardly, and slightly co'nvergently in their central positions, with their forward ends permanentlysecured in the respective blocks 8 and 4, which blocks are spaced apart and are adjustablyeonnected by the graduated bar 5, to which they are detachably secured by means of the set-screws 6 and 7, which are threaded down into said blocks and impinge the bar 5. i

Numerals 8 and 9 designated the vertical supporting bars, forming legs, which are also graduated, for. vertical adjustments, and which are slidablein apertures formed through the respective blocks 3 and 4, and they may be adjusted as desired, and then secured at such adustments by means of the respective set-screws 10 and 11.

Said members 8 and 9 are adapted to contact with the surface X, and they support the blocks 3 and 4 at any height to which it is desirable to move them.

Rigidly mounted on the arm 1 are the blocks 12' and 13; and likewise mounted on the arm 2 are the blocks 14 and 15. All of said blocks-12, 13, 14 and 15 are identical with each other, and each has a horizontal aperture formed through its lower part, as the apertures 16 and 17, which, are shown in Fig. 6.

iNumerals 18, 19, 20 and 21 denote condyle slides or gagepins, each of which is slidably mounted in one of said apertures in the respective blocks 12, 13, 14 and 15, and'their inner ends are formed pointed, or tapering, for purposes hereinafter set forth. Said condyle slides are identical with each'other, and they are also parallel with each other, and with the graduated bar 5, and they are adapted to be secured in place bymeans of the respective set-screws 22, 23, 24 and 25, which are threaded into the respective blocks 12, 13, 14 and 15.

0peratz'0n.ln using my invention the adjustments are such that readings are'to be taken from at least eight different places, as follows: on the four condyle slides 18, 19, 20 and 21; the supporting bars 8 and 9; and near each end portion of the bar 5. The said eight readings are, of course, to be taken in addition to the readings normally afforded by the instrument with which my invention is associated.

To obtain the adjustments so that correct readings may be made at said points, the procedure is substantially as follows:

The upper wax bite S is adjusted in the patients mouth, after which the face-bow L is adjusted in the usual manner. The condyle pins M are then adjusted to the patients face concentric with the patients condyles. The wax bite S is then removed from the mouth and, together with the face-bow and the bite which are adjusted to fit the condyle-posts i of the transfer instrument. 1

In the use of the face-bow the condyle slides, or gage-pins, are always adjusted the same on each sidewhen finding the correct width between them, so as to fit the patients face properly, and when transferring the face-bow from ones mouth'to the articulato'r, it is necessary to run the condyleslides inwardly somewhat, to fit the 'condylegposts,

but the positions on each side are always kept equal so that the correct lateral position of the bite-plate and the cast is always maintained.

When the face-bow has been adjusted the lower front edge of the bite-plate is even with the groove 25, in the center of the rod 5 Next the condyle slides are run in until they touch the cast and then make a small cone-shaped indentation in the cast with the point of each condyle slide, forming the respective indentations 18, 19, 20 and 21', respectively. These indentations are each made more clear by means of two pencil lines crossing each other at right-angles at the exact centerof each indentation formed by the points of the condyle slides, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This will show clearly where the points of the condyle slides should go when re-assembling at a distance from where the measurements were taken.

A correct reading is then made, and indicated upon a sheet of paper, from the gradnations of each of said eight points, by means of the graduation marks, or by means of calipers, or otherwise.

Qther anatomical data, such as the protrusion bite and the centric relation bite, are also to be taken at this time, to insure accuracy when the set-up is made and assembled.

The record reading, and the other anatomical data, together with casts, and the bite plates, are then sent to a laboratory, where with the same type of articular instrument, and my attachment, the readings and other data can be reassembled and mounted in their exact relations, and from which a cor rect anatomical set-up can be made which, together with the data above mentioned, may be returned to the sender, together with the dental set-up all ready to be placed in the patients mouth, with confidence that it will be absolutely correct.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the several details herein set forth, and that my attachment may be employed in other ways and with other devices from that shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful and which involve invention. 7

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination with .a prosthetic adaptable articular instrument carrying a plastercast of a denture mounted therein, an attachment for obtaining condyle and other records from the plaster cast, comprising a frame carried by the said instrument and having a plurality of adjustable pintles to provide contacts for obtaining various data with relation to the plaster cast carried by said instrument.

2. In combination with a prosthetic adaptable articular instrument having a face-bow, an attachment for said instrument including" a plurality of adjustable contacts providing means for obtaining various records, both vertical and horizontal, of the dental model which is carried thereby, said means comprising a plurality of slidable and adjustable members adapted to be secured at the points of adjustment to which they may be set.

3. An instrument for obtaining condyle and other records from a dental cast, comprising a frame, a plurality of pintles adjustso ably connected to said frame and providing contacts for obtaining data from the dental cast, means for obtaining from the instrument the exact data recorded by such adj ustments, and means for supporting said instru- 5 ment in operative position, substantially as set forth.

4. In connection with a prosthetic adaptable articular device having a face-bow and carrying a dental model; a frame detachably connected with said device, a plurality .of graduated pintles adjustably connected to said frame and adapted to contact with said dental model for obtaining recordable data with relation to said model, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ROY P. CLARK. 

